Pastor’s Thoughts – 01/07/2024

The phrase, “Do not fear” is often repeated in the Bible. As finite creatures subject to all manner of disease, and living in a fallen dangerous world, we are naturally fearful.

I read years ago that one of man’s greatest fears is speaking publicly. This relates to the fact that we are afraid that we will offend or say something where we think others will look down on us. This is especially true in this time and culture where people are offended easily about everything. In the time when the Lord Jesus was ministering on the earth, there was much to fear physically. This is obvious from knowing that He Himself was innocently accused and crucified when He had only done that which was good.

The world has not changed in the sense that there are many things to fear. In Matthew 10 beginning in verse 16 our Lord was telling His disciples that they had a hard road before them. They were to be those who would testify of Him as the Christ and bring the truth to a sinful world. The Lord was explaining that this would not be accepted by most people. It would be such a dividing issue that He stated, “Brother will betray brother” (Matt. 10:21). He then spoke of persecution, and we know from history that each one of the disciples ultimately became martyrs.

Being a Christian is a very serious commitment. To encourage His disciples, Christ does not tell them everything will be easy, but instead He does say, “Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul, but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell” (Matt. 10:28). This makes living a choice, and either direction is marked by difficulty. If I offend men who love their sin, they may go so far as to kill my body. If I am unfaithful and deny God, I am in danger of not only losing my life but spending an eternity in hell. The attempt to save the body so that it may continue to exist in the temporary for what will be a brief span of time, while the everlasting interests of the soul and body are being neglected, is foolish.

If we believe God, this is not really a hard choice, but an obvious one and therefore it is reasonable to say, “Do not fear” in relation to men who set themselves against God and us. Some will say, I choose to not be in this battle. I just want to love everyone and get along with everyone. Of course, we all do! But, when it comes to the Lord, we must make a choice. For to say we will not engage in the battle, is the same as denying God, and Christ says in this same context, “Whosoever denies Me before men, I will deny before My Father in heaven” (Matt. 10:33).

These disciples were being sent out to proclaim the message of Christ. They were to be those who would initiate the Church bringing God’s light to Gentiles. How we thank them for doing so as we are recipients of their faithfulness even today. But this issue of faithfulness to proclaim the message has not changed. We are to do the same thing and must do the same in order to be faithful to the Lord. The idea today that to be a Christian just means I have accepted Jesus, but not made Him truly my Lord in all things is not Biblical. If Christ is truly my hope, my faith, and my all, I will obey Him no matter what else is occurring in the pressures of my life.

When considering the difficulties of confessing Christ before men, His commands may seem beyond our capability. That is why I believe our Lord then stated the following, “Are not two sparrows sold for a cent? And yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But the very hairs of your head are numbered” (Matthew 10:29-30). This reality from our Lord is a comfort. If God takes care of birds of the least value, such a small thing, and has concern even for the number of hairs on our head, we can know that every incredible detail of our life is under His gracious control.

He has us in His infinite mind and will never lose the attention of His care in every situation. The thrust is that God has planned and purposed everything in the smallest detail. He is concerned for sparrows and the emphasis is that He protects them in His timing, and none will fall apart from His will. He reiterates by saying God is even concerned with the hairs on our head. As parents, we are protective of our children. I remember how in the panhandle of Texas my mother would wrap me up in winter to the extent I could hardly move. I knew it was out of love. God does the same for us. Our Lord Jesus is expressing this detail to let us know that we are beloved of the Father. He is watching over us.

As we are engaged by His command to be His witnesses, He is with us! Consider that every encounter that occurs in our lives is mapped out before God. There are no accidental events or surprises to Him. Our Lord then adds, “So do not fear; you are more valuable than many sparrows” (Matt. 10:31). There is our phrase again – “Do not fear!” This is actually the third time in six verses that His disciples are encouraged to have no fear in possessing Christ and faithfully doing His will. Man, for whom we naturally fear, is nothing by comparison to God. Fear of men above God is causeless, and sinful. We should fear foremost to displease our Lord, and as we do we need fear nothing or no one else.

I often arrive back at the verse, “If God be for us, who can be against us?” (Rom. 8:31). This verse is found in the exhaustive section of the fact that nothing can separate us from the love of God in Romans 8. This is truly a glorious and wonderful promise to those in Christ Jesus. Back in our text He states, “Therefore everyone who confesses Me before men, I will also confess him before my Father who is in heaven” (Matt. 10:32). Contrary to this in verse 33 of Matthew 10 we are confronted with the seriousness of denying Christ before men, which would be an indicator of a lack of true faith.  He is expressing by our obedience what it means to have saving faith. Faith in Christ leads to faithfulness in Christ.

Christ becomes to us the chief love of our heart and life. We follow Him by faith being obedient to Him and His Word. If we are acting in obedience, we need not fear. That does not mean our actions will be easy, and even sometimes very difficult, but if there is sincere commitment to His Word and will, we need not fear! As we move into 2024, here is our New Year’s resolution - to be fully committed to serving the Lord from the heart, knowing that God is with us, and therefore we will not fear!